1.
GV EXT Courthouse
0.05

2.
GV INT Court
0.10

3.
SV Minichiello's family and court
0.13

4.
CU Minichiello's mother
0.15

5.
SV Minichiello led into court
0.21

6.
SV Judge
0.25

7.
SV&CU Minichiello sitting during trial
0.30

8.
SV Minichiello's lawyer
0.37

9.
SV Judge
0.42

10.
CU Mother
0.47

11.
SV Lawyer PAN TO court officials
0.51

12.
CU Judge speaking
0.53

13.
CU Mother weeping
0.58

14.
SV Minichiello
1.01

15.
GV Reporters
1.03

16.
SV&CU Minichiello taking to lawyers
1.10

17.
SV Minichiello led away (2 shots)
1.19



Initials JON/PMW/PS/1452 JON/PMW/MH/1447



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Rome Raffaele Minichiello has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment for hi-jacking an American airliner half way round the world.

Minichiello was born in Melito Irpino, southern Italy. He is 21. He was serving in the United States Marines a year ago when he hi-jacked a Boeing 707 from California to Rome. Five hours after the plane landed, Minichiello was captured on his way to Naples. He has been in prison since then.

Minichiello served with the U.S. Forces in Vietnam and was decorated for bravery. When he returned to the U.S. from Vietnam, he was charged with theft and was about to be court-martialled. He claimed that 200 dollars ( GBP 83 Sterling) was missing from his savings in Marines bank, that he planned to steal to make good the loss, but fell asleep before he stole anything.

Since he fled last year, Minichiello has been indicated in New york for air piracy - a crime which carries the death penalty.

The sentence passed on him in Rome yesterday ( 11 November ) was thirteen months more than the public prosecutor had asked for. In addition fines totalling 360,000 Lire (GBP 240 Sterling) were imposed on him.

Minichiello has already served one year in prison; and under a recent amnesty another two years has been cut from the sentence. If his appeal is not successful, he will spend another four and half years in jail.